According to the writings of the late John Power of Kilmore, [ A Maritime History of County Wexford Vol 2 ] the Ardmore left in a howling gale of WNW wind and charted a course close to land to avail of shelter along the southern Irish coast. She was spotted off Ballycotten at 10pm by Coastwatchers, and passed Knockadoon Head 35 minutes later. Based on her route she shuld have entered the Saltees area in the early hours of the following morning – Nov 12th. Despite a radio onboard no distress signal was sent suggesting an immediate and catastrophic incident took place.

Elsewhere I have read that she had on board 500 cattle, and about the same number of pigs as deck cargo, and a quantity of agricultural produce. Although the ship could carry passangers, none were aboard that fateful night.

The vessel was discovered in the 1990s with a gaping hole close to the engine room. It’s only speculation but on the 10th of November there had been a storm. The British had a defensive minefiled protecting the Bristol Channel, it may have been a stray mine that broke away from that sector, or it may have been something completly unrelated. For more details via Cork read here. 

Of the 24 dead, one was Patrick Ryan of Passage East who was serving as Mate. If anyone had any further biographical information on him, I would be delighted to record it here.